U18 | TOWN 1 BRISTOL CITY 5

Alan Lee’s U18s side suffered a heavy loss at Playford Road as the Blues tried to push on following their incredible 4-3 comeback win over Birmingham last time out.

Unfortunately no such feat was to be repeated as Ipswich fell to a 5-1 defeat, with Lounes Foudil scoring Town’s only goal and Tommy Hughes being sent off in added time.

Blues had responded well after going behind in the early stages to a strike from Bristol City’s Antoine Semenyo. Jack Lankester played striker Albert Wilton through down the left side, but his powerful effort was held well by City ‘keeper Aaron Sainsbury.

Lankester then tried his own luck a few minutes later with a fizzing strike that was tipped behind for a corner by the City shot-stopper.

The visitors had their second genuine chance of the game around the half-hour mark. Cam Allen found some space on the edge of the box but fired wide of Town’s net.

Mitchell Ware made a fantastic save to keep his side in it moments before half-time. The Blues ‘keeper was forced into action when City winger Marcus Day connected with a loose ball from eight yards away.

Semenyo grabbed his and City’s second five minutes after the restart. The pacey forward latched on to a through ball and rounded Ware before slotting into an empty net.

A sweeping counter-attack saw Semenyo turn provider for the third. His perfectly weighted pass was hit first-time by Allen into the bottom corner to seal the three points.

Lankester should have responded for the hosts when he was one-on-one with Sainsbury but the winger failed to hit the target when bearing down on goal.

City added two in quick succession when substitute Kieron Smith diverted an attempted clearance into the bottom corner. And Semenyo completed his hat-trick moments later after being found on the edge of the area and firing under Ware.

Foudil netted a consolation for Lee’s Blues with five minutes to play. The attacker drove at the City defence before beating a man and finishing into the far corner.

Town substitute Hughes was sent off in the final moments, the winger was dismissed for a rash tackle on Semenyo by the corner flag.